WECAN second Intellectual Output Summary

WECAN (Women's Entrepreneurship CoAches training) is a strategic partnership project co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission (project number 2019-1-FR01-KA204-062215).

The project aims at enhancing women's positive perceptions of their skills to start a new business through a coaching journey in which women coaches with relevant entrepreneurial experience will show them what it actually takes to be an entrepreneur.

The WECAN methodology focuses on a peer-to-peer approach through coaching. In fact, a woman entrepreneur, the so-called coach, who is more experienced and has gone through similar challenges can help the coachee in finding her way towards her entrepreneurial goal. The WECAN methodology aims at sorting the main steps of the coaching journey and at identifying obstacles and solutions that can be adopted by the coachees. The methodology places emphasis on reflexivity or reflective-reflexive practice thus encouraging peer learning and co-creation.

The second result (IO2) of the project is the WECAN curriculum and training toolkit, which are hosted on the WECAN e-learning platform.

Target group of IO2: Both of these deliverables are addressed to WECoaches (women with an entrepreneurial experience) by providing them with new tools and knowledge in order to equip them with skills and competencies in order to support their coaching journey with the the coachees (women who want to be entrepreneurs).

The WECAN curriculum of IO2 has been designed and developed based upon the methodology and toolkit development of IO1. Hence, the WECAN curriculum incorporates two parts:

• A detailed modular learning programme, which sets out in detail the modular topics, sub-topics, areas to be covered, format and learning outcomes/objectives, including the selection and organisation of content, learning and organisation of experiences and a step-by-step approach to the learning outcomes. It will include a range of exercises. As informed by the methodology concept, the modular programme will be structured around the knowledge, skills and attitudes specified by the critical European Reference Framework (ERF) and EntreComp Framework. The emphasis in each case is on critical thinking, creativity, initiative, problem-solving, risk assessment, decision making and constructive management of feelings. They provide added value for employment and social cohesion for adult women.
• A practitioner guide which sets out the WECAN approach for WECoaches, so that they are able to apply the core approach model and adapt it to their peer context and learning needs.

WECAN CURRICULUM AND TRAINING TOOLKIT:

The Curriculum aims to offer a comprehensive knowledge and information programme for WECoaches about skills and competences required today to Coach and Assess Women (future to be) Entrepreneurs who wish to acquire entrepreneurial skills and an entrepreneurial mindset to start up their own business and (re) enter the labour market.

The Curriculum and Training Toolkit of our WECAN project is structured into 4 modules:

1. Overcoming Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs
2. Developing and Sustaining a Business with Lean and Agile tools
3. Communicating, networking and selling soft skills improvement
4. Social Entrepreneurship, a social entrepreneur in the XXIst century

Topic 1, focuses on gender and entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, especially when it comes to balancing business and family life. Moreover, the importance of branding when setting up an enterprise and leadership are further explored.

Topic 2, focuses on lean and agile tools business methodologies such as scrum, business canvas model as well as time management, negotiation and risk management skills when setting up an enterprise.

Topic 3, explores some necessary skills that a woman entrepreneur needs to know when setting up an enterprise,some of them being communication, networking and soft skills.

Topic 4, focuses on the general principles of planning and implementing a social enterprise in a circular economy, through various success stories from all participating countries. Furthermore, it presents the process of ideation, of building a team suitable for a social enterprise, financial management and minimum technology requirements necessary for a start-up.

The Curriculum has a dual role: Being a tool for WECoaches to organize their own training course (Coaching Coaches) as well as being used by WECoaches to deliver training in this specific field. The Curriculum has been developed taking into consideration the results/conclusions of IO1. In other words, this is a training manual which is tailored for Coaches training/being the entrepreneur companion of Women. This training manual will be translated into the official languages of all participating countries.

The curriculum has a high impact and transferability value due to its cross-sectoral reach, in fact, the peer approach developed for the WECoaches can be applied to enhance other skills and attitudes of unemployed women. The approach the WECAN adopts is transferable to other contexts and uses. Coaching peers is a learning/teaching method that can be successful in many fields and the practitioner guide can be re-used by other coaches and organizations willing to transfer experience and know-how at a peer level. Within this framework, the detailed content will cover cross-cutting content or specific topics within the modules. The curriculum will be translated for local piloting with local language user groups. Each module will deliver specific learning outcomes designed to enhance skills and abilities.

PRACTITIONER GUIDE

The WECAN approach is based upon 4 pillars:

• The use of non-formal education and tools to engage with adult women out of employment,
• The notion of coaching as a creative and effective learning approach which can enhance women’s participation in the economic life of the society in which they live,
• The transversal competences of the European Reference Framework for Lifelong Learning (ERF),
• The EntreComp Framework as the main reference framework for the development of entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and attitudes applicable in all spheres of life.

What you are about to read has been designed to support female entrepreneurs to become WECoaches – expert coaches of other adult women interested to become entrepreneurs, leaders, and self-conscious professionals.

The aim of the practitioner guide is to support the usage of the WECAN curriculum by the WECoaches to facilitate an entrepreneurial training journey with women who want to become entrepreneurs so as to empower them to create value in the society. WECoaches are meant to use the curriculum and the practitioner guide based on their already existing knowledge as well as the needs and skill set of their coachees.

The practitioner guide will offer practical tools and guidance to support wecoaches during their learning journey with the coachees

The practitioner guide consists of practical tools as developed in the modules, needs diagnostics, methods, techniques, tips of how to use the material developed in a coaching journey and further resources. It sets out detailed guidelines, observation frameworks and assessment guidance for the implementation of the curriculum and the evaluation of learning outcomes. This will ensure that the learning attained by partners as the programme develops and goes through its testing phase, is captured and documented for use of the curriculum in the future.

 

This guide can be used in parallel with the WECAN curriculum as both a supportive training material and/or as a stand-alone resource.

 

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